Victoria is currently experiencing the worst bushfires in Australian history after 45 degree plus temperatures on Saturday (the highest temperatures recorded since records started being kept.
Currently there are 108 confirmed deaths, many injuries & at least 750 homes destroyed. Many of the injured are not expected to survive & the death toll will increase as emegency services continue to reach areas that are still burning. There are thousands left homeless.
There are still 31 major fires burning & communities are still under threat, it may be weeks before the fires are finally out. Over 330,000 hectares have already been burnt out. The size of the fires & the death toll are higher than the 1930's Black Friday & 1980's ash wednesday fires, both extremely devastating.
Australians often help other countries when there is a crisis - for example nearly every year we send our volunteer firefighters to assist Californian residents when fire breaks out there - right now we too are asking for assistance. If you can, please donate to the Red Cross 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal (https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp), whatever you can give will be much appreciated.
Lance
Lance, I'd like to make a donation, but I don't see a method other than by cheque or money order. Do they accept credit card/Paypal?
Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX
Robert, thank you - I can accept paypal via te Donations tab & willpass it along.
cheers,
Lance
Me too, Lance.
Their bonehead site will let me tell them I'm from the US, but it insists I provide a state and their pull-down menu only lists Australian states. I assume without correct address info my credit card would be rejected.
So I'll send you my contribution by PayPal.
Edit: Ok, I give up. Where's your PayPal email address?
On the menu bar at the top of the forum there's a "Donations" tab :)
Quote from: Blacklord on February 10, 2009, 05:05 AMOn the menu bar at the top of the forum there's a "Donations" tab :)
Nope. Believe me, I looked all OVER the place for your email address or a 'Donations' link. Nothing. Nada.
Here's my menu:
Home|Forum|Help|Search|User CP|My Messages|Chat|Calendar|Members|Picasa Gallery|Staff List|Downloads|Links|Contact LogoutWhat am I missing? ???
I don't see it, either.
Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX
Thanks for turning the 'Donation' menu selection on, Lance.
Donation sent.
Quote from: airship on February 10, 2009, 09:21 AM
Thanks for turning the 'Donation' menu selection on, Lance.
Donation sent.
No mate, thank
you for your generosity.
cheers,
Lance
Donation away!
More next month,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX
Thankyou guys - we're going to match whatever members here donate.
Lance
These fires are still burning, and new ones are still breaking out:
Important incident information Urgent Threat Message Yea Murrindindi Fire 12.30 10/02/2009
Urgent Threat Message communities of Acheron, Connellys Creek, Crystal Creek, Scrubby Creek, Native Dog Creek and Molesworth may be directly impacted by this fire.
Important incident information Urgent Threat Message Yea Murrindindi Fire 12.50pm 10/02/2009
Urgent Threat Message Yea Murrindindi Fire communities of Rubicon, Thornton- Taggerty Road, Bulls Lane, and in Cathedral Lane to the east of Little River may be directly impacted by this fire.
Important incident information Urgent Threat Message Bunyip Ridge Fire 2:20pm 10/02/2009
Urgent Threat Message The communities of Currawong Drive, East Beenak Rd to the Pack Track in Gembrook may be directly impacted upon by this fire
Important incident information Urgent Threat Message- Yea/Murrindindi Fire near Glenburn 12.00pm 10/02/2009
Urgent Threat Message for communities of Kalatha Creek Road and east of Two Hills Road
Quote from: Blacklord on February 10, 2009, 01:27 PM
...we're going to match whatever members here donate.
That's good to hear, Lance. Twice the bang for the buck.
Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX
Man, those fires are really getting nasty. Now I hear arson may be suspected in some cases. What in hell motivates people to do something like that? Are they that pissed at the world that they have to destroy things and cause death and suffering?
There's concern that a wind change isgoing to drive the two biggest fires together into one large 500,000 hectare fire. That would be simply devasting. At the moment, the predictions are maybe 300 deaths (181 isthetoll so far). With a fire that size......
Arson has been ruled out in the Kinglake fire, but arsonistshave been arrestedfor oters. In some cases theCFA was putting out fires & arsonists were returning & restarting them. These people should be tied to a tree in the line of the next fire that goes through.....
QuoteIn some cases theCFA was putting out fires & arsonists were returning & restarting them. These people should be tied to a tree in the line of the next fire that goes through.....
That or shot in the nuts. A**holes!
Police today charged a 39-year-old man with arson causing death and lighting a bushfire as Victoria's police chief warned that some fires near Melbourne may be the action of copycat arsonists.
The maximum penalty for arson causing death is 25 years. At least ten people died as a result of the Churchill blaze and police expect the toll to rise.
Police were also working around the clock in the pursuit of arsonists behind the Marysville blaze. Fifteen lives were lost at Marysville, amid fears that that death toll could top 100 - a fifth of the town's population
More than 1800 homes have been lost and more are at risk as authorities warn Victorians to prepare for another two weeks of bushfire threats.
Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin today confirmed 1831 homes were lost in Victoria's devastating blazes - almost double the 1069 counted yesterday.
The death toll remains at 181.
Urgent warnings were issued for residents in parts of Healesville this morning as 31 bushfires raged out of control around the state.
The Country Fire Authority has warned the threat is far from over.
"We're at the start of February and we expect that the fire season continue of for at least another few weeks,'' CFA spokesman Anthony Spargo said.
"There's no doubt in the world that we haven't seen the end of it.''
Healesville residents were warned to enact their bushfire plans this morning after a flare-up of the 26,000-hectare Maroondah-Yarra complex blaze, which on Saturday ravaged the town of Marysville.
The blaze is now within three kilometres of the Yarra Valley township and ash is falling in the main street.
The Country Fire Authority released three urgent warnings before 6.30am due to rising danger from a fire burning in a westerly direction from the Donnellys Weir area.
Quote from: Blacklord on February 13, 2009, 11:05 PM
The maximum penalty for arson causing death is 25 years. At least ten people died as a result of the Churchill blaze and police expect the toll to rise.
Do you have the death penalty in Oz?
Quote from: SmallCleverDinosaur on February 14, 2009, 12:48 AM
Quote from: Blacklord on February 13, 2009, 11:05 PM
The maximum penalty for arson causing death is 25 years. At least ten people died as a result of the Churchill blaze and police expect the toll to rise.
Do you have the death penalty in Oz?
No, the last person hanged in Australia was back in the 50's - turned out they were innocent, there's been no appetite for capital punishment since due to the inherent risks of executing an innocent person. Also Australia is signatory to UN document that outlaws capital punishment. From time to time the subject comes up, but always gets exactly nowhere.
We do have life sentences for serious crimes though (ie Ivan Milat of the backpacker murders infamy) & these are enforced - never to be released means exactly that.
cheers,
Lance
In the American South they used to get around the death penalty problem by sentencing a criminal to three years of swimming the Mississippi River wearing 150 lbs. of chains.
Of course, only blacks got that particular sentence.
Quote from: airship on February 15, 2009, 01:29 AM
In the American South they used to get around the death penalty problem by sentencing a criminal to three years of swimming the Mississippi River wearing 150 lbs. of chains.
Of course, only blacks got that particular sentence.
Hmmmm... douse the arsonists in petrol & have them do a walk across hot coals....
Quote from: Blacklord on February 14, 2009, 11:27 AM
Quote from: SmallCleverDinosaur on February 14, 2009, 12:48 AM
Quote from: Blacklord on February 13, 2009, 11:05 PM
The maximum penalty for arson causing death is 25 years. At least ten people died as a result of the Churchill blaze and police expect the toll to rise.
Do you have the death penalty in Oz?
No, the last person hanged in Australia was back in the 50's - turned out they were innocent, there's been no appetite for capital punishment since due to the inherent risks of executing an innocent person. Also Australia is signatory to UN document that outlaws capital punishment. From time to time the subject comes up, but always gets exactly nowhere.
To not have a death penalty is commendable :) It has been outlawed in Sweden too, since 1921. The last person executed in Sweden was in 1910, by hanging.
In the U.S., the argument is often brought up that the method of executing criminals who've received the death penalty is "cruel and unusual". Personally, I think the state of Washington has it right. When someone gets the death penalty there, they get to pick the method of execution. While I was living there in 1997-1998, someone was hanged because that's the way they chose to go. It's hard to argue that it's "cruel and unusual" if they picked it.
I'm sorry Mr Wiskow, but your reasoning frightens me. However, I don't think we should go deeper into this discussion since it's a political discussion, and this is after all a forum for the C128.
Please don't think I'm "pro death penalty". Far from it! In my mind, life imprisonment is a much harsher penalty and it's what people who commit the worst crimes deserve. All I'm saying is that if the death penalty is given to someone, it makes sense to me to let the person choose how they want to go.
As for discussing this here, Lance has said many times before that in this "General Chat" board, pretty much anything goes! ;)
Back on topic, however... The fires in Victoria are really terrible. I hope they're able to get them under control soon. I noticed today that during the eBay checkout process, you're now able to add a donation to the victims of the Victoria fires to your payment.
The theory behind capital punishment is it supposedly a deterrent to similar crimes. The fact that capital crimes continue to be committed despite the availability and usage of capital punishment in many jurisdictions in the USA conclusively demonstrates that it isn't a deterrent. Perhaps this is because criminals often get away with their crimes, either because they aren't caught or because they get acquitted during trial due to some legal maneuver. whatever the cause, it just doesn't work as a deterrent.
The best thing to do with a person who is convicted of a capital crime is to incarcerate him/her for natural life and no possibility of parole, with only the barest subsistence and necessities being provided. The anti-capital punishment crowd will be satisfied that a life was spared, however vile that individual may be, and the prisoner will live a life of extreme monotony and isolation from society. I can't speak for the sort of people who commit capital crimes, but I'd be willing to wager that the prospect of remaining behind bars, unable to look forward to anything but seemingly endless days and nights of isolation until death comes to pass, is much worse a punishment than execution.
You'd be surprised. My sister works in the California prison system, and has for many years. Prisoners form their own societies 'inside' and seem to work things much as we do on the outside. There are leaders and followers. There's a barter system of exchange, trading both rare goods and personal services.
As to amenities, most prisons have a gym, TV (either individual or communal), and a library. Since they don't have to worry about a place to sleep, or food, or medical care, or clothing, the focus of the internal economy is on luxuries that aren't normally available.
Many leaders of criminal gangs continue to run their operations from within prison walls. They bribe guards and attorneys to help them do business, and there is always a steady stream of their own gang members coming into prison and going back home who can carry messages.
There are, of course, many differences. There are no women, but they make up for that. Prisoners who engage in 'alternative' sexual practices are quick to point out that they are not gay - they're only making do. Interesting.
But much of what drives prison life is the same 'us versus them' mentality that seems to run the world outside. You have to be in a gang for protection from 'them'.
It's certainly not any place I'd like to spend any time; I just question whether or not it's actually much in the way of 'punishment' for most criminals, at least for the ones who live a criminal lifestyle.
Quote from: airship on February 17, 2009, 04:36 AMThere are no women...
Except in women's prisons.
Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX
Thank you for that 'well, duh!' moment, Robert. :D
Are you sure they're women ?? :|
QuoteAre you sure they're women ?? :|
According to all those "Chained Heat" movies they are—and very horny. :D
I just learned that the Victoria fires have destroyed the fantasy woodland sculpture garden created by Bruno Torfs. Very, very sad. :(
http://stylefrizz.com/200805/bruno-torfs-fantasy-sculpture-garden-tour/
More flare-ups :
http://www.theage.com.au/national/firefighters-battle-new-outbreak-of-victorian-bushfires-20090224-8g17.html
Quote from: airship on February 24, 2009, 03:19 AM...the Victoria fires have destroyed the fantasy woodland sculpture garden created by Bruno Torfs. Very, very sad. :(
Yes, a tragedy that all that beautiful art was destroyed. Let's hope it can be re-created.
Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX
Victorian fire authorities say they are under pressure as they try to control fire fronts which now stretch for 1,100 kilometres.
Crews are worried towns could be threatened again if the forecast hot and windy weather arrives tomorrow.
Department of Sustainability and Environment's spokesman Stuart Ord says crews have been working on containment lines around spot fires near Daylesford and Eildon, north-east of Melbourne.
"I don't think we couldn't say we're on top," he said. "We've done some fantastic work over the last two weeks.
"Tomorrow's just going to test us. It's going to test all of our containment lines. It's going to put pressure more so in some places than in other places.
"We will do our best tomorrow to ensure that none of these fires make a run."
It's over: Victorian fires contained
All of Victoria's bushfires have now been contained.
Emergency services said the Wilsons Promontory Cathedral fire was finally contained at 10am (AEDT) today, ending the last major bushfire that had been threatening Victoria since Black Saturday.
Australia's worst natural disaster has claimed the lives of 210 Victorians, more than 2000 homes and burnt 421,670 hectares of public and private land since starting on February 7.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) state duty officer Dennis Ward acknowledged the combined firefighting effort of the DSE and Country Fire Authority (CFA) in containing the Wilsons Promontory bushfire.
A lightning strike sparked the fire on 8 February, and it has burnt over 25,200 hectares of the national park.
"The recent rainfall and milder weather enabled firefighters to strengthen containment lines and bring the fire under control," Mr Ward said.
"Wilsons Promontory will remain closed until the end of March 2009.
That's great news that the fires have all been contained. Still, it's sad that so much was lost. :(